Celeste Schreiber
Summary
Diligent lawyer with over five years of experience who brings fierce, persuasive communication, and public speaking skills. Successful at explaining complicated legal rules and legislative changes to employees at all levels. Committed to honest, transparent advising, and comprehensive representation. Efficient at planning and managing my time to adapt to changing circumstances. Dedicated to protecting corporate interests, bringing integrity and outstanding leadership to a team.
Overview
8
8
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Acting Senior Legal Officer (V)
Professional Standards & Investigations, Department of Communities & Justice
Sydney, NSW
08.2025 - Current
- Previously acted from May 2024 to October 2024.
- Provide advice to Corrective Services NSW Custodial Directors and Assistant Commissioners regarding misconduct, ongoing legal matters, and propose strategies.
- Manage a team of legal officers.
- Manage a pilot team for a recently implemented misconduct policy. Liaise with management to provide ongoing feedback on the model, and areas of improvement.
- Identify gaps in policy, and provide feedback to stakeholders.
- Review legal officers' work, including submissions, briefing notes, GIPA responses, subpoena responses, and documents filed in Industrial Relations Commission appeals.
- Conduct file reviews with team members to assist in setting priorities and goals. During these reviews, I provide ongoing feedback and coaching to drive performance improvement.
- Attend meetings with management to discuss team issues, and find solutions to develop the team.
- Collate information to share with injury management and human resources.
- Plan and lead team meetings to discuss the team's workload, issues arising, and recent case law, which will affect our practice.
Legal Officer (IV)
Corrective Services, Professional Standards & Investigations, Department of Communities & Justice
Sydney, NSW
03.2022 - 08.2025
- Maintain corporate compliance with laws and regulations.
- Bring misconduct proceedings against employees who breach legislation and company policy.
- Provide high quality legal advice to Custodial Directors, Assistant Commissioners and the CSNSW Commissioner in relation to professional misconduct matters impacting CSNSW.
- Work with HR and injury management to share information and provide advice.
- Identify and mitigate legal risks within CSNSW.
- Researched changing laws, corporate plans and industry trends in employment law to stay ahead of concerns.
- Conduct dispute resolution and advocacy before the Industrial Relations Commission for unfair dismissal and public sector disciplinary appeals.
- Draft evidentiary statements and submissions.
- Contributed to law reform by reviewing CSNSW polices and guidelines and identifying gaps in policy.
- Mentored a student in their practice legal training and peer review colleagues submissions.
- Used in-depth knowledge of legal precedents to analyse probable outcomes of cases.
- Provide training to CSNSW Directors.
Lawyer
Neville Hourn + Borg Legal
Sydney, 2000
02.2020 - 03.2022
- Conducted legal research and analysis to draft legal advice.
- Interviewed clients and witnesses to acquire additional evidence and draft evidentiary statements.
- Maintain current knowledge of laws to provide advice on legal concerns in particular the impacts of COVID-19 on employment law and personal injury work from home issues.
- Negotiate with opposing parties to promote settlement.
- Appeared in the Local Court of NSW, Fair Work Commission, District Court of NSW, Family Court, Supreme Court of NSW, NCAT and Personal Injury Commission.
- Worked in a team of lawyers for an appeal in the High Court of Australia in respect to intellectual property.
- Prepared evidence and exhibits to be utilised in court hearings.
- Drafted various documents to assist in client's claims including statements, contracts and agreements, deeds of release, focusing on readability and enforceability.
- Drafted submissions and chronology's for hearing.
- Communicated effectively with clients to interpret rulings and regulations which are applicable to their case.
- Carried a case-load of 60+ matters including personal injury, employment law, family law and general litigation.
Lawyer
Aon Insurance
Sydney, NSW
08.2021 - 08.2021
- I worked two secondments at Aon Insurance, the first from Demember 2019 to March 2020 and the second in August 2021, working in the risk and compliance sector.
- Reviewed customer issues, company processes and other operational areas to check compliance.
- Responded to customer complaints by legally analysing their insurance policy.
- Responded to subpoenas.
Paralegal
Neville Hourn + Borg Legal
Sydney, NSW
02.2018 - 02.2020
- Filed pleadings and paperwork with court registry to meet strict deadlines.
- Participated in client interviews, observed questioning process and documented information.
- Entered client data into Open Practice to manage records and customer relationships
- Trained staff on office procedures and case-specific duties.
- Prepared court books and appeal books.
- Coordinated subpoena services.
- Draft advice for clients in the areas of employment law and personal injury.
- Answered phone calls.
Education
Bachelor of Law/Bachelor of Global Studies -
Australian Catholic University
Sydney, NSW12.2019
Bachelor of Law -
Australian Catholic University
Rome, Italy07.2018
Bachelor of Global Studies -
Ramon Llull, La Salle
Barcelona, Spain02.2018
Skills
- Dispute resolution
- Team leadership and development
- Critical thinking
- Legal research and advice
- Litigation experience
- Time management
Certification
- Lawyer admitted to the Supreme Court of New South Wales and the High Court of Australia since February 2020
- Current practicing certificate
- Bachelor of Law and Bachelor of Global Studies in the graduating class of 2019
References
- Cathy McInnes, Professional Standards & Investigations, Senior Legal Officer, cathy.mcinnes2@dcj.nsw.gov.au
- Virginia Henson, Professional Standards & Investigations, Principal Legal Officer, virginia.henson@dcj.nsw.gov.au
Timeline
Acting Senior Legal Officer (V)
Professional Standards & Investigations, Department of Communities & Justice
08.2025 - Current
Legal Officer (IV)
Corrective Services, Professional Standards & Investigations, Department of Communities & Justice
03.2022 - 08.2025
Lawyer
Aon Insurance
08.2021 - 08.2021
Lawyer
Neville Hourn + Borg Legal
02.2020 - 03.2022
Paralegal
Neville Hourn + Borg Legal
02.2018 - 02.2020
Bachelor of Law/Bachelor of Global Studies -
Australian Catholic University
Bachelor of Law -
Australian Catholic University
Bachelor of Global Studies -
Ramon Llull, La Salle